PETA and zoo share very big concerns

Both want to see recovery of two sick Asian elephants

San Diego Zoo lead elephant keeper Ann Alfama tended to Tina, one of two former circus elephants that arrived at the zoo about a week ago. The Asian elephants were taken from a Texas exhibitor by U.S. government officials. (Earnie Grafton / Union-Tribune)

San Diego Zoo lead elephant keeper Ann Alfama tended to Tina, one of two former circus elephants that arrived at the zoo about a week ago. The Asian elephants were taken from a Texas exhibitor by U.S. government officials. (Earnie Grafton / Union-Tribune)

Tina and Jewel, two former circus elephants, have helped create rare goodwill between animal-rights groups and the San Diego Zoo after years of acrimony over the institution's policies for pachyderms.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and In Defense of Animals are applauding the zoo for accepting the two elephants, which federal officials had taken from a Texas exhibitor.

While these groups still prefer to see Earth's largest land mammal roam in the wild or live in large sanctuaries, they're acknowledging the zoo's humane efforts to rehabilitate Jewel and her longtime buddy, Tina.

The pair came to the zoo's new $45 million Elephant Odyssey exhibit in Balboa Park about a week ago. Both are middle-aged — in their 40s — and have various health problems. Veterinarians are most concerned about the too-skinny Jewel, whose ribs and shoulder bones were visible beneath her leathery skin upon arrival in San Diego.

“We recognize that the San Diego Zoo can provide her with the kind of intensive veterinary care that she needs,” said Suzanne Roy, spokeswoman for the Bay Area-based In Defense of Animals. “We are grateful they are spending their resources to do that . . . and we are grateful Tina and Jewel are staying together.”

It's a marked turnaround in opinion.

Animal-rights groups have criticized the zoo for spending millions on Elephant Odyssey, which opened in late May, saying the money would be better spent on helping save endangered elephants in the wild.

In 2003, the San Diego Zoo was picketed by protesters who denounced it for importing young, wild elephants from Africa and sending older pachyderms to zoos in colder climates, where they died.

Zoo leaders said the wild elephants they acquired were scheduled to be killed at an overpopulated African preserve. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed with the zoo and granted an import license.

Tina and Jewel have helped ease the friction, but that's not to say the animal-rights camp has lost its long, elephantlike memory of past tensions.

“We're very glad to see members of the zoo community actually rescuing animals,” said PETA spokeswoman RaeLeann Smith. “We'd like to see more zoos rescuing instead of capturing from the wild or breeding.”

San Diego Zoo spokeswoman Christina Simmons said, “This is a situation where there are many people who have the best interest of these animals at heart.”

The U.S Department of Agriculture asked the zoo to help Jewel and Tina recuperate particularly because of the institution's new elephant digs, which include a “special needs” barn where the pachyderm pals can live comfortably while veterinarians nurse them back to health.

“We chose this facility because it will provide Jewel with care that best matches her particular needs, as well as a new enclosure with other elephants on site,” the agency said in a statement.

In a rare move, USDA inspectors confiscated Jewel in August under authority of the Animal Welfare Act, which allows the government to take an animal living in a condition of “unrelieved suffering.” The circus operator — Willie Davenport of Leggett, Texas — also relinquished Tina because he lacked the proper permit.

Davenport denied wrongdoing and was allowed to keep a third elephant that has been with his family since the 1960s, The Associated Press reported. He agreed to pay a $3,000 fine in exchange for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service dropping complaints against him related to permits.

Davenport will still face penalties from the USDA, and he surrendered his animal exhibitor license, USDA spokesman David Sacks said.

San Diego Zoo veterinarians are cautious with their prognosis for Jewel and Tina, saying it's hard to make a firm determination after only a week's observation.

It appears that Jewel needs at least two operations, said senior zoo veterinarian Tracy Clippinger. One of the elephant's teeth is misshaped, leaving her unable to chew or digest food correctly.

Both elephants have foot problems, but those are less pressing, said Clippinger, adding that it's obvious the two received some medical care in the past.

Tina and Jewel are busy munching hay, tree leaves and snacks, including yams, carrots and the occasional raisin as a special treat for training.

Jewel packed on 300 pounds in her first week, putting her at nearly 6,700 pounds. Her buddy gained 185 pounds and now weighs in at 7,550.

Clippinger said it's too early to say what a healthy weight will be for either pachyderm, as — much like people — elephants' frames vary widely. Ironically, the zoo's Wild Animal Park made national news last year for putting its elephants on diets, saying they were too fat and sedentary.

Tina and Jewel will live apart from the seven other Elephant Odyssey occupants during a 90-day quarantine period. Zoo visitors might get a peek at the newcomers if they peer through the bars of the large concrete-block elephant barn.

Eventually, these former circus elephants will probably join the Elephant Odyssey family. If the group dynamic is right, they may have a permanent home in San Diego.

If not, zoo officials said they'll probably try to re-house them at another zoo.

“They are smart, nice animals,” Clippinger said. “I'm encouraged at one week in how they are doing and how they are getting used to things.”